COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 1, 2011) - The U.S. Women’s National Team defeated Peru 25-20, 25-14, 25-14 Friday afternoon to open the X Women’s Pan American Cup being held July 1-9 at Juarez, Mexico.

The U.S. Women’s National Team continues Pool B competition on July 2 at 8 p.m. with a match against Puerto Rico on July 2 at 8 p.m. The Americans will face Trinidad & Tobago on July 3 at 6 p.m. and Costa Rica on July 4 at 8 p.m. The U.S. closes out pool play against Brazil, the top-ranked team in the world, on July 5 at 8 p.m. All Pool B matches will be played at the Universidad Autonoma de Cuidad Juarez or UACJ (www.uacj.mx).

Team USA held a 16-8 margin during the opening set and held on to win 25-20. The Americans scored the final seven points of the second set to win 25-14 after Peru remained within striking distance for much of the set. The U.S. dominated the last part of the third set breaking an 11-all tie to go on to a 25-14 victory.

"It was no surprise that Peru gave us challenge, but we were more consistent," U.S. Women's National Team Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) said.

In unofficial DataVolley stats, Nicole Fawcett (Zanesfield, Ohio) led the Americans with 12 points via 11 kills on 22 attacks and a block. Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.) charted eight kills on 13 errorless attempts to go along with a match-high three blocks. Jordan Larson (Hooper, Neb.) chipped in seven kills and a block, while Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.) scored all seven of her points in the first set via six kills on 10 attacks and a block.

Kim Glass (Lancaster, Pa.) pocketed five kills on 10 errorless attacks with the Americans’ only ace for six points. Jen Tamas (Milpitas, Calif.) added four kills on eight errorless attacks with a block. Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.) recorded two kills on two attempts and a block, while Nancy Metcalf (Hull, Iowa) rounded out the scoring with a kill.

"I'm proud of my team," said Tamas, who is serving as the team captain. "It was difficult to adjust to the air in the gym, but we just had to stick to the basics: serve and pass, and it all went well."

Nicole Davis (Stockton, Calif.) and Larson each tallied eight digs each as the Americans held a 32-24 margin in the category.

McCutcheon started Tamas and Akinradewo at middle blocker, Larson and Hodge at outside hitter, Fawcett opposite and Alisha Glass at setter. Davis was the libero for the match. Kim Glass replaced Hodge in the second and third sets. Nellie Spicer (Barrington, Ill.) and Metcalf were subs in the third set.

The U.S. converted 50 percent of its attacks into kills with a .409 hitting efficiency (44-8-88). The Americans out-blocked Peru 8-6 as both teams served an ace. Peru converted just 29 percent of its attacks for points and managed a .081 hitting efficiency. Team USA passed at a 65 positive percent on 40 service receptions.

Carla Ortiz led Peru with eight points, followed by seven points each from Patricia Soto and Yulissa Zamudio Ore.

The U.S. broke a 3-all tie in the opening set with a 5-1 scoring to take an 8-4 advantage at the first technical timeout. Hodge provided the Americans three of their first eight points of the set, while Akinradewo added two more on kills. Team USA reached the second technical timeout with a 16-8 margin after Akinradewo and Hodge powered down two consecutive kills. Peru closed the gap to five points at 18-12 leading to an American timeout. Team USA responded and did not allow Peru any closer than 23-18 in closing the set at 25-19.

The Americans pushed to an 8-5 lead at the second set’s first technical timeout with a 4-1 scoring run. By the second technical timeout, the U.S. margin reached five points at 16-11 as Fawcett collected three kills in the middle stages of the set. Peru closed the deficit to 17-14, only to have Team USA score eight unanswered points to close out the set 25-14. Larson provided three kills and a block in the scoring run, while Glass added a kill and ace to start the spurt.

Fawcett and Kim Glass knocked down consecutive points to give the Americans a 6-4 advantage in the third set, only to have Peru battle back to tie the set at 7-all and go in the lead at 9-8. A Fawcett kill after Peru service error returned the U.S. in front 10-9. The U.S. went on a 3-0 run with kills from Akinradewo and Kim Glass followed by a Tamas block to push the lead to 14-11. The U.S. scored 10 of the final 11 points of the set as Akinradewo provided two kills and a block, Larson and Tamas scored two kills each and Metcalf ended the match with kill at 25-14.